Penn State football vs. West Virginia: Scouting report, prediction

Penn State football opens the season Saturday against an old rival it hasn't played in 31 years.

It opens in prime time in Beaver Stadium for the first time in more than 20.

And it features its most anticipated quarterback debut in a decade.

There's a lot going on, and more than usual at stake, when the Nittany Lions play the West Virginia Mountaineers in front of a sold-out, "helmet stripe"-themed crowd. Kickoff will be just after 7:30 p.m.

Penn State is a three-touchdown favorite when it unveils its recalibrated offense and super-charged defense to begin its expected College Football Playoff drive.

Here are three things to watch for and a game prediction:

Drew Allar raises expectations

Though Penn State's sophomore quarterback is starting his first college game, he's been working in the system for more than 18 months now.

It should be a smooth takeoff. Drew Allar should get plenty of protection and help up front against an undermanned West Virginia defense. (It was dismal last year, ranking 117th or worst nationally in points allowed, passing yards per game and turnovers gained.)

Allar should be able to comfortably scan and fire and work out early jitters and any kinks.

His numbers should look sterling, which probably won't be wholly indicative of his stature and introduction to a Big Ten schedule, at least not quite yet.

But the hype around the former 5-star recruit will take off anyway (Remember Christian Hackenberg, 2013?). How will he learn and grown from two warm-ups, including next week vs. Delaware?

Penn State linebackers let loose

The Mountaineers shouldn't have much of a pass game to speak of early on. They lost their top receiving options from last season. Their new quarterback (Garrett Greene) looks to be a better runner than a downfield thrower. And they do have a deep stable of running backs.

Which all means there should be constant and focused action around scrimmage.

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Penn State's loaded linebacker group will be tasked with keeping that varied run game in check — their first shot at proving just how good/dominating they can be. New-and-improved Abdul Carter (up to 250 pounds), senior Curtis Jacobs and rookie Tony Rojas will be flying.

Their grades should be highly-determined by this: Filling run gaps as needed vs. overrunning and being out of position, allowing big gainers?

It will be a proving night, in particular, for Kobe King in the middle. He's reportedly leaner and faster and finding ballcarriers much more adeptly. He should pile up tackles.

Penn State's precision level

This is the most highly anticipated Penn State team since 2017. It probably is its deepest, most talented roster in much longer.

But will it act like all of that?

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We'll get a taste for team unity and fundamentals Saturday, no matter the scoring margin. The Lions usually are sound at holding onto the football and even better at avoiding penalties.

How does that part of the operation look, especially when relying on needed second- and even third-stringers? It should provide insight into where the team truly stands when the outcomes begin to tighten in a couple of weeks.

Penn State 41, West Virginia 12

The Lions will be fueled by the atmosphere, will start fast and simply have too much firepower, on both sides of the ball.

West Virginia can build around its offensive line and running game and promising pass-rushers on defense. But it isn't equipped to deal with Penn State's best at this point — the running back combo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and the wideout KeAndre Lambert-Smith on offense; those linebackers, edge rushers and do-everything cornerbacks on defense.

The measure of the night: Penn State's starters will be resting by the middle of the third quarter.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football: Drew Allar, James Franklin vs. West Virginia